Ampoule cutter



V. J. YESKETT AMPOULE CUTTER Nov. 22, 1949 Filed March 17, 1949 INI ENTOR. l//ncem J Yes/eff Patented Nov. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFICE- AMPOULE CUTTER Vincent J. Yeskett, Palo Alto, Calif.

Application March 17, 1949, Serial No. 81,875

2 Claims. (Cl. 49-52) This invention relates to improvements in iampoule cutters.

The principal object of this invention is to provide means for nicking and breaking .the end f an ampoule.

A further object is to provide means Ifor attaching and retaining the broken end of the ampoule.

A further object is to produce a device of this character which is convenient to handle, neat in appearance, and economical to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a device which the doctor may readily carry in his case, a device which is easy to use and one which will be readily located, in contradistinction to the :average small le which is easily misplaced.

Other objects an-d advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of ythis speciiication and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is an end view of my ampoule cutter,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, illustrating the manner in which my device is used in nicking the end of .the ampoule, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detail view, showing the manner in Which the end of the ampoule is broken off.

The ordinary ampoule consists of a glass tube in which a commodity is stored, such as liquids which are to be hypodermically injected into the body oi a patient. These tubes have one end drawn down to a small tip which is so designed that it may be nicked with a le and then broken oi. It has -been customary for the doctor or nurse to first secure a file and, if it is in the doctors bag, it is often diiiicult to locate; or even in a hospital les are often misplaced; to then file the tip so as to form a small nick in the glass and to then bend the tip by applying pressure thereto so as to crack it at the nicked point. It often -occurs that the glass, in breaking, will splinter and `eut the ngers of the person breaking .the tip, or the glass may drop onto the patient, or onto the bed and unless removed, may cause extreme discomfort.

Applicant has, therefore, devised an ampoule cutter which will not only abrade or nick the tip, but will serve in breaking the tip and will ais@ retain the broken tip so thai-l there is no danger of the glass becoming a menace in any way.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of my inventiton, the numeral 5 designates the body portion, which is here shown aS circular in shape.

This body portion is provided with a cap 6, which has a series of openings 1, 8 and 9, formed therethrough, lthe purpose of which will be later seen.

The opposite end of the body portion is reduced so as to form a lfunnel-like end I0, having a reduced opening I I.

A receiver I2, is frictionaliy held on the end of the body portion 5 so as to receive any material discharged through the opening I I.

An elongated `opening I3, is formed in the side of the body 5, land a iile or abrading member I4, is secured adjacent to and parallel with one portion of the opening.

The result of this construction is that, when it is desired to .break off the tip of an ampoule, the ampoule is removed from its carton, the cutter is held in one hand and the ampoule in the other. The tip A, of ythe ampoule B, is now moved through the opening I3, and pressed against the file I4, then moved from end to end of the opening I3. This causes the le to form a nick in the glass tip and then, by placing the glass tip in one of the openings, '1, y or 9, depending upon the size of the tip, and by bending .the body B, of the ampoule, the tip will be bent, as shown in Fig. 6, so as to fracture the glass tip and break the same away from the body. The broken tip will fall down into the body, which, at this time, is being held in a vertical position, and will pass through the opening II, into the receiver I2, where it will be retained against any danger of contact with the person using the ampoule, or with the patient.

It will thus be seen that I have devised a quick method of breaking the tip lfrom an ampoule and retaining the same in a suitable receptacle for future disposal.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape fand arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the inven.. tion or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An ampoule cutter comprising a body portion having an opening formed therethrough, an abradin-g member positioned parallel to said tion having 4a reduced outwardly-extending flunnel-shaped end, closure means carried by the opposite end of said body member, a, receiver enclosing said funnel-shaped end, and an elongated opening formed in said body member and having an abrading member secured parallel to one of the edges of said opening, whereby the tip of an ampoule may be abraded thereagainst.

VINCENT J. YESKE'II. No'references cited. 

